2013 jeep wrangler Reviews and News

Jeep Wrangler owners are an interesting group. Even the slightest change made in the name of creature comfort is likely to set off the die-hards. Luckily, the changes Jeep bestowed upon the 2013 Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition are functional and aimed right at the guys who would take a brand new Wrangler off-road before the first monthly payment is due.

What's New

The Wrangler Rubicon has always been the most capable model in Jeep's portfolio, so it makes sense the 10th Anniversary Edition would be the most capable Rubicon ever built. Added off-road ability comes from an extra half inch of ride height; aggressive 265/70R17 BF Goodrich KM2 tires; honest-to-God steel front and rear bumpers with removable end caps, which increase approach and departure angles; Mopar rock rails that protect the rocker panels from damage on the trail; and a dual-intake power dome hood that offers better cooling. There's now an integrated winch mount in the front bumper, too. Jeep brought us out to the Rubicon Trail to verify the usefulness of these changes. Although the Rubicon is one of the most difficult trails in the world, Jeep has been conquering it with showroom-stock vehicles for a decade now. There's no simple way to quantify how the functional changes enhanced our trail time, but there were a lot fewer instances of steel dragging over rocks when the '13s tackled an obstacle than there were with a 2012 Rubicon.

Unique Looks

Although most of the changes for the 10th Anniversary Edition are functional, there are a handful of design changes to help identify these special Rubicons at a glance: 17-inch black satin aluminum wheels feature a polished lip to set them off from the variety of aftermarket black wheels; red tow hooks are a bit easier to find when you're in the mud; exterior paint colors include Billet Silver, White, and Anvil, which is a 10th Anniversary Edition exclusive color. Inside, the 10th Anniversary Edition offers red leather seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel and center console, a unique gauge cluster, Mopar slush mats, some special switchgear, and a smattering of badges.

Familiar Powertrain

Since off-roaders spend most of their time closer to idle than wide-open-throttle, there was no need to change the Pentastar V-6. The 3.6-liter unit produces a stout 285 hp at 6400 rpm and 260 lb-ft at 4800 rpm, which was more than sufficient for the obstacles we encountered on the Rubicon Trail. More important than outright power is low gearing, and the manual transmission-equipped Rubicon comes from the factory with an impressive 73.1:1 crawl ratio thanks to its 4:1 low range and 4.10:1 axle ratio. We spent most of our time on the trail in automatic-equipped Rubicons and were pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to crawl up large rocks by locking the transmission in first gear and engaging the front and rear lockers. Purists will still want the manual, but there's no longer a functional requirement for a third pedal in the Wrangler.

On The Road

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the Rubicon is how well suited it is to pavement pounding now. It's quite easy to modify a base Wrangler with aftermarket parts to improve off-road abilities, but doing so always compromises the on-road behavior. After we completed the Rubicon Trail, we simply shifted back to two-wheel drive, flipped switches to disengage the lockers and re-engage the front anti-roll bar, and aired up the tires. Although the two-door Wrangler has come a long way since 1987, it's still a unique experience to drive a vehicle with such a short wheelbase and high center of gravity. The ride back to our hotel was surprisingly quiet with the optional hardtop, though the KM2 tires are more vocal on the highway than less-aggressive rubber would be.

For the ultimate on- and off-road machine, the four-door Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition is tough to beat. The added wheelbase didn't make the Rubicon Trail any more intimidating, but it makes an expressway jaunt far easier for the driver. Now that Jeep is building hardcore vehicles for its traditional Wrangler fans and also building easier to live with, but no less capable, models that expand the brand's appeal, it's easy to see why Wrangler sales regularly surpass 100,000 units per year. As long as Jeep keeps producing Rubicon models, the purists won't have a real reason to complain.

New For 2013

Jeep’s continued evolution of the Wrangler brings better front and rear seats, extra interior lighting, and a standard auto-dimming rearview mirror. Soft tops are easier for one person to manage on Unlimited models, and a premium soft top is easier to clean and keeps the cabin quieter. A limited-edition Moab model based on the Sahara adds off-road touches but doesn’t threaten the Rubicon’s top-dog status.

Overview

Jeep’s legendary Wrangler has gotten quite refined in recent years. Despite an interior overhaul in 2011, Jeep has upgraded the seats, interior lighting, and soft top for 2013. Those changes might not be as impressive as the new-for-2012 Pentastar V-6 was, but small changes are much better than letting an aging model languish. There’s still a decidedly trucky feeling through the steering wheel, thanks to the Wrangler’s signature solid axles and relatively long suspension travel. Not many vehicles can haul five people and a respectable amount of luggage to virtually any destination you can imagine. And no other vehicle can do so while allowing passengers to enjoy the unique open-air experience of driving without a top or doors. Speaking of which, the Wrangler Unlimited’s soft top is now easier to operate by a single person, and an optional premium soft top reduces interior noise. The hard top offers additional flexibility and can now be had in body-matching colors. The Wrangler handles every situation, from cruising the beach to taming the Rubicon Trail, with equal ease. Previous Wranglers required sacrifices from owners and didn’t make much sense for daily use, but the 2013 Wrangler has managed to become civilized enough for the mainstream market without abandoning its off-road heritage or sacrificing capability.

Safety

Front air bags, traction and stability control, roll mitigation, ABS, brake assist, and hill-start assist are standard. Side air bags and electronic trailer-sway control are optional. No fancy blind-spot detection or automatic parking system here.

You'll like:

Off-road icon

Strong V-6 engine

You won't like:

So-so mpg

Competition is more refined

Key Competitors For The 2013 Jeep Wrangler

Although today’s competitive SUB/crossover market forces Jeep to also offer soft-roaders that cater to suburban families and shopping mall exploits, the brand hasn’t lost sight of the fact that many Jeep loyalists are truly die-hard off-road junkies. They’re the people who regularly spend a large amount of each and every paycheck on off-road modifications. They’re the people who congregate to traverse Moab year after year. They’re the people who, more often than not, actually have a need to hose down the interior of their Wranglers at the end of a weekend.

Safety

Sound & Entertainment

Warranty

Vehicle

36,000 miles / 36 months

Powertrain

100,000 miles / 60 months

Corrosion

Unlimited miles / 36 months

Roadside

36,000 miles / 36 months

Recalls

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:30

Component

EQUIPMENT

Summary

Quadratec, Inc. is recalling certain aftermarket accessory, driver-side, Ultimate Floor Liners part numbers 14254.0301 07, 14254.0301 08, 14254.0301Q, 14254.0302 07, 14254.0302 08, 14254.0302Q, 14254.0303 07, 14254.0303 08, 14254.0303Q, 14254.0309 07, 14254.0309 08, and 14254.0309Q sold from May 1, 2012, through February 14, 2013. The liners are for use in 2007-2013 Jeep Wranglers. The anchor point for the affected floor liners may tear during use, particularly when exposed to high temperatures. The tearing may allow the floor liner to shift forward.

Consequences

If the liner shifts forward it may impede the operation of the accelerator and possibly lead to unintended acceleration, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Quadratec will notify owners and either exchange the liners or provide them with a hook guard kit to help secure the driver-side mat, free of charge. The recall began on April 4, 2013. Owners may contact Quadratec at 1-800-463-2998 or info@quadratec.com.

Potential Units Affected

15,836

Notes

Quadratec, Inc.

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:30

Component

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

Summary

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and an automatic transmission and manufactured January 23, 2011, through February 23, 2013. The power steering line may contact and wear a hole in the transmission oil cooler line resulting in a loss of transmission fluid.

Consequences

A loss of transmission fluid may result in a loss of transmission function which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N28.

Potential Units Affected

180,131

Notes

Chrysler Group LLC

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:30

Component

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

Summary

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and an automatic transmission and manufactured January 23, 2011, through February 23, 2013. The power steering line may contact and wear a hole in the transmission oil cooler line resulting in a loss of transmission fluid.

Consequences

A loss of transmission fluid may result in a loss of transmission function which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N28.

Potential Units Affected

180,131

Notes

Chrysler Group LLC

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:41

Component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Summary

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to July 19, 2013. Corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short.

Consequences

An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will move the exterior mirror power feed to a separate connector, free of charge. Chrysler issued an interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on March 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P61.

Potential Units Affected

313,496

Notes

Chrysler Group LLC

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:41

Component

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Summary

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles manufactured February 16, 2010, to July 19, 2013. Corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short.

Consequences

An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will move the exterior mirror power feed to a separate connector, free of charge. Chrysler issued an interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on March 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P61.